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The Baltimore Ravens were the only winners of six clubs returning from the bye featuring four consecutive days off as part of the new collective bargaining agreement between players and the league. With three days off last season, teams were 20-12 after the bye.

That initial record doesn't bode well for the half-dozen teams playing Sunday including the San Diego Chargers (4-1) and Tennessee Titans, leading the AFC's West and South divisions, respectively. And while it remains to be seen whether that break is a help or a hindrance, the main focus for teams is making sure that rest doesn't turn into rust.

"Since the bye week started, (coaches) have studied that and how to work that off week and everyone does it differently," said first-year Titans coach Mike Munchak, whose team hosts Houston in a game with first-place implications.

"You can think you have a great week and a great plan and you come out and don't play well, so I don't know if it really does (provide an edge) or not."

Sirius NFL Radio analyst and former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt noted that four of those losses were by road teams facing clubs with winning records or at tough venues such as Foxborough, Mass. (Dallas), Green Bay (St. Louis) and Chicago (Minnesota). But he said the biggest obstacle is having one less practice day to address concerns before embarking on a long weekend.

"Previously when you had a bye week, you cleaned up a lot of loose edges" Brandt said. "I'm not sure when you have to give them four consecutive days off that you can clean up those loose edges.

"(Before) you could see where you need help on pass protection or the pass rush, and those were things you could've done. It's pretty hard now with the short week to do those things. The only advantage left is if you've got guys hurt, they have two weeks to recover."

Despite the lockout that erased offseason workouts and fewer training camp practices resulting from the new CBA, Brandt says he believes teams returned sharper and is impressed with the quality so far.

Players meanwhile appreciate any break they can get physically, and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is especially eager to see if it can pay off Sunday at the New York Jets and beyond.

"With the way the bye is set up now with four days off," Rivers said Wednesday, "it really gives you some time to rest and mentally get geared up for 11 (games) in a row, and hopefully (a) handful more after that. It's hard not to get excited for this game."

Chargers coach Norv Turner was more wary: "We had four days off. I just want us to get back into that game mentality. We've been away from it."